IT Infrastructure Architect

A bit about the role

The IT Infrastructure Architect is accountable for the base line and target infrastructure architecture definition and strategy. This includes the creation, management and socialisation of technology designs, standards and reference artefacts within IS and the broader business community and ensuring alignment to Group technology policies and wider strategy.

The role works closely with Solution Architects to understand the business’ strategic needs, how they can be supported through the effective deployment of technology, the options available and how to effectively transition to the target state. This role is also responsible for influencing key business and IT stakeholders to ensure that the right decisions are taking place to shape the architecture and roadmap for their domain.

As an IT Infrastructure Architect, you will:

· Document the baseline infrastructure architecture, including reference to the relevant business, information and technology domain components;

· Engage with project teams to define the technology architecture components of a solution, provide ongoing assurance of technology solutions through to delivery;

· Define, document and communicate the technology roadmaps and all major transition states;

· Effectively apply the IT strategy and architecture principles to ensure they are achieved through delivery of the roadmap;

· Identify and analyse business needs and drivers associated with infrastructure change, assessing their feasibility and proposing solution options

· Responsible for managing the Infrastructure Design Forum ensuring all designs follow the approval process and all new standards are updated on a regular basis.

· Carry out options analysis to evaluate the technology impact as well as the cost, risks, benefits and support implications of each option;

· Liaise with vendors and industry advisors to understand the available market offerings, product features, future roadmaps and how they map to the target technology architecture and roadmap to guide the right decisions and maximum value from investments and relationships;

· Maintain and communicate the technology roadmaps, covering lifecycle planning, capacity planning, obsolescence, availability of support, major version upgrades and vendor roadmaps;

· Define and gain business agreement for the technology requirements for each project that requires infrastructure change e.g. performance, capacity, availability, conducting planning for future growth and ensuring those requirements are met through solution design;

· Carry out research and development to explore emerging technologies and investigating how they may be incorporated into the technology roadmaps;

· Actively participate in project governance, approving solutions, conducting quality assurance, identify risks exposed by proposed solutions, identifying mitigating actions and following them through to closure;

A bit about you

Significant experience as an Infrastructure Architect or equivalent role within an omni-channel retail organisation or a leading Management Consultancy.

This will include infrastructure definition and delivery of major change in the following domains:

Ecommerce, Buying & Merchandising, Logistics & Supply Chain, Finance, Omni-Channel Order Management, Customer Experience and Relationship Management (CRM).

• Experience designing and engineering technology, in complex retail environments

 • Experience leading a technical subject area within a significant transformation programme through to successful delivery

 • Experience influencing business stakeholders and communicating complex ideas and solution options in a simple and resonant way in order to gain buy-in and commitment

•Experience proactively driving the definition of infrastructure architecture and enterprise-level architectures, the roadmaps and programmes to deliver them and mobilisation of the necessary projects

 • Experience in supporting project delivery involving both in-house and third-party design, development, testing and project management

• Experience of different delivery lifecycles and service delivery methods will be beneficial, e.g. RUP, Agile, TDD, Waterfall, Prince2, ITIL and similar 

• Experience designing infrastructure solutions for common retail applications will be beneficial, e.g. Oracle Retail Suite, WebSphere Commerce / Sterling, Oracle ATG / DOO / GOP, PeopleSoft, Oracle Financials, Hyperion, etc.

• Experience of operating with a high level of autonomy and the ability to manage delivery to agreed timescales

• Experience of overseeing supplier or internal low-level designs

• Strong understanding of all key business functions of a modern omni-channel retailer, the major cross-department processes and information flows, how they combine to produce value and the role of information systems in supporting them; Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of cloud computing, including all delivery models

• Strong understanding of VMWare virtualisation, Microsoft products

• Strong understanding of integration technology and information security requirements

•Strong understanding of core infrastructure concepts (such as AD, DNS, routing, networking protocols)

• Some exposure to the Oracle Applications, Oracle Managed Cloud Services (OMCS) and/or public cloud offerings

• Experience working with 3rd party managed hosting providers • Exposure to RedHat Linux and Windows Server operating Systems

• Good knowledge of LAN, WIFI, WAN and telephony design principles and standards

• Demonstrated understanding of common strategies, challenges and business models relevant to retailers and the influence they have on technology strategy and decision-making;

• Ability to identify multiple solution options to address a business problem and analyse, assess their impact and make appropriate recommendations;

• Ability to rapidly analyse and understand functions and operation of existing solutions and capabilities of new technologies.  

Ability to identify and plan for the information management, security, performance, capacity, availability, reliability, flexibility and supportability aspects of a solution across a diverse variety of technologies and topologies

 • Demonstrated understanding of key systems design concepts, systems behaviour, application and integration patterns, standards, architecture principles and building blocks;

Effectively communicate the transition and target architectures to all relevant work stream stakeholders including the Programme Director, Workstream Leads, Programme/Project Managers, Business Analysts, Solution Architects and Business Leads

• Motivated self-starter, enthusiastic, resilient, personally effective, pro-active and with a flexible attitude to work

 • Strong strategic and analytical problem-solving skills, has a keen attention to detail and a good commercial sense

• Quickly builds strong relationships and credibility with both the business and within Information Systems

• Excellent person/people management skills, especially in developing consensus across diverse groups

• Makes customer-oriented decisions and shares great stories of exceptional customer service 

• Remains visible to customers as one of the faces of IS to listen to their concerns and share these with others

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with an ability to handle difficult or sensitive situations

 • Communicates information in a relevant and concise fashion, mindful of and tailored to the audience

• Proactively identifies areas for improvement, shares lessons learned with colleagues and encourages others to do the same

 • Ability to continually question current customs and practice, think laterally to resolve project issues and initiate quality improvements

• Prioritises work and remains focussed on the most critical tasks, ensuring time and resources are used efficiently and effectively

• Strong sense of ownership and ability to follow tasks through to completion

• Ability to work as part of an effective and highly skilled team

 • Ability to deliver in a high-pressure, dynamic environment

A bit about us

Our Creative Spirit 

We are more than a shop. We are a social space where culture and commerce collide to release an energy that we call the Selfridges spirit. We are here to make our world brighter, and everyone is welcome. 

Our Awards Cabinet 

We’re not ones to brag, but since you asked...Selfridges has won the award for The World’s Best Department Store an unprecedented four times at the IGDS awards, with an additional award for the Best Sustainability Campaign.  

Our Future 

Since 1909 we have been at the forefront of retail and today our stores in London, Manchester and Birmingham – alongside selfridges.com and the Selfridges App – continue to redefine the way we shop and socialise. As a Selfridges team member, you will learn what it takes to consistently drive innovation, success and amazing customer experiences. 

Everyone is welcome

We are committed to a diverse and inclusive working culture, and we see this as key to our success and our working culture. Here at Selfridges, everyone is welcome - irrespective of race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, age or disability, we stand by equal opportunities for all. We are diverse, we are inclusive, we are Selfridges.

The Fun Stuff  

There are lots of reasons to be excited about joining Team Selfridges – from our fantastic team member communities to volunteer days and behind-the-scenes Selfridges experiences throughout the year. 

Other benefits and rewards include:

• Generous bonus and/or commission scheme 
• Discounted gym memberships 
• Pension contributions  
• Annual travel pass and cycle to work schemes 
• A volunteer day for all team members 
• Access to a wide range of training programmes to help your career development